So first week of teaching is over and done with! I've had some brilliant lessons with some brilliant students. I like the know-it-all swots of the class but their intelligence tends to bore me whereas I particularly enjoy the more challenging muck about students. There is one sweet, albeit rambunctious, little boy in kindergarten who I now affectionately call Captain Shit Bag because, well, he's a little shit. A little lovely shit though it has to be said. Overall though, it's been one hell of a learning curve and I'm ready and prepared to smash this week and make it something extra special as its my last at this school and ultimately in Ang Thong.
After an exhausting week it was time to 'live for the weekend' Thai style. No, I don't mean with more jaw-dropping ping pong shows or scorpion eating but instead with all those furry creatures great and small, starting with the smaller end of the scale - the monkeys.
My host family drove us to a little monkey sanctuary in the near by city of Ayuthaya where both chimp and monk appeared to be at one with each other. 40 baht later and a basket full of corn and monkey nuts (I know understand the name) I was sitting amongst (and often face to face) our distant relatives getting abused for my basket of goods. I can now say that my first ever Thai massage was given by a monkey. After a thorough checking over of nits by my primate pals (much appreciated after my week of some dirty bit-ridden children), it was off to the elephant village.
Now I love animals, always seem to get along with them but I was actually intimidated and impressed with the strength and shear size of these things. Seeing one behind bars (ie zoo, not for a criminal offence) is one thing but having one wrap their trunk around your arm is something else. 100 baht later and yet another basket of veg, this bloody elephant took not one of the pieces of cucumber, but tore the actual basket in the coils of his trunk and chucked them into his gaping mouth! The cheek! I felt a bit ripped off and was about scramble to regain my veg but thought better of it. We then went to another few markets and temple ruins and stopped for lunch, where after some indiscernible dialogue between our host elder and the market chef, I then quickly found myself in the position of wok master and was scrambling eggs, browning tofu and flashing up phat thai to passing customers. Aroi mai? Aroi maak (very delicious). Shortly after I was then locked in a dual with a little boy to see who could eat the most coconut custards from these ceramic bowls. Naturally I won, but really I think he was the real winner as I felt all the worse for it.
On our way back home after a long day we pulled up at an elephant village where my close encounters of an elephant kind got closer still - riding the bloody thing. I climbed the steps to sort of balcony where I boarded the beast and set off on a short 15 minute jaunt around the neighbouring temple. If elephants were cars, 1st gear is arguably the most comfortable pace but once up to 2nd, the crudely made chair with canopy attached began to see-saw on the rhythmic shoulder blades of the elephant, making me immediately regret the vast consumption of the aforementioned custards. Trying to appreciate the surroundings, and not chunder all over the back of this clearly overworked animal, I couldn't help but feel morally wrong about this activity. Yes these animals are massive and have the strength to unearth a tree but these padded metal chairs cannot be comfortable. And it's damn hot! And strangely, we were sharing a road with tuk-tuks, cars and motorcycles. And obviously, I was only one of many a tourist to have paid for this experience. Don't get me wrong, it was an enjoyable novelty but it all just felt a bit unethical doing it this way. I think ill prefer the barebacking in Chang Mai in the more natural surroundings. All in all it was an amusing and enjoyable day.
Today (Sunday) was a day of rest and happily doing sod all. Leung Chai had to go to Bangkok for business this afternoon so left me in charge of his kitchen and cooking for everyone. After a crash course in making authentic phat thai I was left un-aided and unattended and I have to say, it turned out pretty damn well! It's definitely better phet nit noi (a little spicy) and with shaved papaya. Today I have also practiced the newly introduced to me Thai sport of takraw, a cross between volleyball and football using a smaller wicker ball. I'm nowhere near the acrobatic level as seen in the clip below but I'm ready to give it a shot at thrashing Captain Shit Bag and Co on the courts tomorrow at school!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61aR25junNo&sns=em
Off to shower and do some lesson planning now, 5 more days then its off to Koh Samet for beach bliss. Cannot bloody wait.
Much love
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